“He slept in Lisa’s bed.”
“Dear lord in heaven.” She turned back to Monica. “What kind of mother are you?”
“Good god.” Monica reared back. “Lisa slept in my bed with me. That was the only way I could make certain that little sex maniac of yours wouldn’t defile my daughter.”
“That’s enough.” I stepped between them. “Sit down—both of you.”
They hesitated. I worried I’d have to tie and gag them so I could talk, but Monica flopped down in the recliner. Mom sat on the couch at the far end.
“Last night, Monica took Lisa and me to dinner. And then…we went to a séance.” I explained to Mom about Charles Bishop being a psychic medium and how he tried to determine what was wrong with Kyle Stratton. When I got to the part about the demon jumping out of the burning blood and hair, Mom shuddered in revulsion. So did Monica, as if experiencing it all over again. The only part I left out was the excessive drinking. “Everyone was pretty shook up. That’s how I ended up spending the night here.”
Mom leaned back against the cushion. “So Mr. Bishop didn’t know how to expel the demon.”
“I’m not sure, but even if he did, I doubt he’d try.” I had to tell Mom the rest even though she wouldn’t want to hear it. “Bishop said it would be extremely dangerous to anyone attempting an exorcism.”
Mom pressed her fingers to her forehead. “It always is.”
Monica sat up straighter. “You’ve done this before?”
“No, but my husband has.”
“He performed exorcisms?”
Mom nodded. “Brendon’s grandfather was a very powerful medicine man. He passed the gift on to his son.”
“And what of Brendon?”
“He didn’t know what his father and grandfather did until a few weeks ago.”
The bathroom door opened. I glanced in the direction of the hallway and caught a glimpse of Lisa slipping into her room. She wore a purple towel around her body and another one wrapped around her head.
“Is that Lisa?” Mom asked.
“She just went in her bedroom.” I glanced at Monica. “Maybe I should let her know we’re here.”
“Give her a chance to at least put on some clothes before you go barging into her room.”
“I was only going to knock on the door.”
“All right.” Her eyelids narrowed as she glared at me. “Just make certain that’s all you do.”
I shook my head as I walked down the hallway. Monica could be difficult to deal with, but then, so could my mom. What crazy idea made me believe I could have the two of them in the same house together without the roof blowing off—and landing on me?
“Lisa.” I tapped on the door. “My mom is here. Could you come out as soon as you’re dressed?”
The door opened a crack, revealing wet hair, a damp cheek, and one blue eye. “I’m glad you’re back. I’ll be out in a second.”
I walked toward the living room and veered off to the kitchen. “Is it all right if I get a drink of water?”
“Certainly.” Monica relaxed in the recliner. “Why don’t you get me a cup of coffee while you’re at it? One sugar, please.”
I turned around. “How about you, Mom?”
“Thanks, Brendon. I could use a cup. You know how I like it.”
After I brought them coffee, I went back for the water. I stopped by the entry when Lisa walked into the living room. She wore jeans and a pink tee. Wet strands of combed hair fell across her shoulders.
“Good morning, Mrs. Alexander.” Lisa kept her head down as she took a seat at the other end of the couch.
“There’s something I was curious about.” Mom went straight to it. Arguing with Monica had her wound up, but she kept the hostility dialed down. “I was hoping you could clear it up for me. When exactly did you see that scar Brendon has on his chest?”
Her blonde eyebrows furled when she glanced at my mother. “The first day I met him. I was waiting for my mom to pick me up from school. Brendon was wrestling around on the grass with some friends. I saw the scar for just a second and wasn’t positive I’d seen it correctly. That’s why I went to your house that evening to get a better look.”
“What?” Monica scooted to the edge of the recliner. “When was this?”
Lisa caught her lip between her teeth.
“The first day of school?” She repeated when Lisa remained silent. “As I recall, that was the evening you said you needed to run to the store to get some Midol and tampons.”
“Mom!” Lisa’s forehead scrunched up and her mouth dropped open.
“You were gone for hours.” Monica glared at me. “And the reason was because you had driven all the way up the valley to his house.”
This was news to Monica—and me. I didn’t know Lisa had lied to her mother when she came to visit that first night.
Mom ignored Monica’s ranting and directed her next question to Lisa. “So that night you got a better look at his scar?”
Lisa shook her head. “He wouldn’t take off his shirt.”
“Good god.” Monica fell back in the chair. “What else is going on that I don’t know about?”
“Would you feel better if my son would have stripped down for your daughter that first night?”
The two moms glared at each other until Lisa interrupted. “I didn’t get a good look at the scar for a couple of days. I’ve always been involved with my mom’s work, so when I saw the burn up close, I knew exactly what it was.”
“What you’re saying is that within the first couple of days of meeting Brendon, you saw his scar and knew he could help your father.”
“No. I realized he had no idea what the scar represented, although I was hoping he knew someone who did. He made it very clear that he believed the scar was just a burn he’d received as a child, and he didn’t know anything about…how did he put it? That weird voodoo crap.”
“But what about the picnic?” Mom asked. “You knew about his father’s journal.”
“Not right away, but from your reaction, I could tell there was more—a lot more. I could also see that you were trying to protect Brendon from the truth. You didn’t want him to know anything about his father’s work. I never asked him about it again.”
Mom’s eyebrows lifted. “So after you decided he couldn’t be of any help to your father, you continued to see Brendon anyway?”
Lisa nodded.
“But why?” Monica asked. “Once you found out he didn’t know anything about the symbol, what possible reason could you have to keep seeing him?”
“Mom.” Lisa’s whole face twisted into a grimace as she let out a hard puff of air.
Monica probably didn’t intend to come across so callous, but she still looked clueless.
“I’ll tell you why.” I strolled to the couch and scooted Lisa over so I could sit in the corner. “Because she likes me.”
Chapter Forty–Two
“Well, Mom.” I glanced at her over the top of Lisa’s head. “Have you made up your mind yet?”
She got off the couch and headed for the kitchen. “I need another cup of coffee.”
When she didn’t come back right away, I went after her. She stood at the sink, staring out the window. I walked up behind her and put my hands on her shoulders. “I didn’t mean to trap you in to making a decision. If you’re really against me doing this, maybe we can find another way.”
“I don’t know of any other way.”
“Brendon.” Lisa grabbed my arm and lifted on tiptoes so her lips brushed against to my ear. “Is your mother all right?” she whispered.
“Yeah, she just needs a minute.”
She must not have believed me, because she took a step toward my mom. “Mrs. Alexander, the first time we met, I said some things that upset you. I hope I didn’t do that again.”
“No, Lisa.” Mom turned to face her. “You said nothing wrong. In fact, you said everything right.”
“I’d really like to keep seeing Brendon.” Li
sa slipped her hand into mine. “It would be easier if at least one of our mothers didn’t object.”
“You’re a very sweet girl.” Mom patted her on the cheek. “I can see why Brendon likes you.”
“Then you’re not mad at me?”
“No, sweetie. It’s not you. I’m just trying to prepare for what will happen next.”
“What do you mean?” Lisa’s eyebrows knitted together.
Mom put her coffee cup on the kitchen table and sat down. “Would you ask your mother to come in here? We have some things to discuss.”
“What things?” Her forehead wrinkled. “Why do you need to prepare my mother? We haven’t done anything wrong.”
“It’s not what you think, Lisa.” I tugged at the end of a wet clump of hair. “Why don’t you dry your hair while our moms drink their coffee?”
“You’re not getting rid of me that easily.” She pulled her hair from my fingertips. “I’m going to stay and find out what this is about.”
Her mother appeared without being called. She put one arm around Lisa. “What’s going on?”
“Sit down, Mrs. Stratton.” Mom motioned to a chair. “If we’re going to heal your husband, there are preparations to be made.”
“What?” she asked, although she must’ve heard correctly because she slid into the chair across from Mom. Her eyelids narrowed. “You can heal Kyle?”
“Not me, but Brendon might. He inherited the gift to be a medicine man like his father and grandfather, but he’s never attempted an exorcism.”
“Brendon?” Lisa clutched at my arm and her eyes widened.
I hadn’t anticipated her reaction. I wrapped one arm around her, hoping to calm the look of terror on her face.
“Sit down, Brendon.” Mom nodded at the chair next to her. “Tell me what your father advised when you talked with him.”
I glanced at Lisa. “Do you want to sit also?”
She shook her head. After I sat, she stood behind me with her hands on my shoulders.
“Dad showed me where the ceremony is to be performed. It’s the same place I went to after I spoke with Grandfather.”
“Wait.” Monica held up one hand. “I thought your father and grandfather were both dead.”
“They are. But I have visions of them and they guide me. I’ve also had dreams and visions of your husband. He showed me what happened at Big Rock when the demon invaded his body. The only way his spirit could survive was if he left his body.”
Her head jerked and her eyes opened wide. “What?”
From her expression, she didn’t seem to comprehend the concept, so I tried to say it as plainly as I could. “The spirit of Kyle Stratton transformed into a shadow and lives inside the hollow of a tree. We’ll have to perform the exorcism near the tree so when the demon is driven out, your husband’s shadow, or spirit, can reunite with his body. Then Mr. Stratton will become the man he was before this happened.”
Monica’s mouth dropped open. “He’s not in his body?”
“But that can’t be.” Lisa squeezed my shoulders. “My father is getting better.”
“That’s right,” Monica agreed. “Kyle is fighting this. The doctors adjusted his medication again. He recognizes me now.”
Mom reached across the table and grabbed Monica’s hand. “That’s just the demon adapting to his surrounds. They generally invade the body of weak souls. If the soul is strong, a conflict will arise and the demon may be expelled without an exorcism. But if both are strong, the conflict may be so great that the soul cannot survive inside the body. He’ll have to leave or be destroyed. If the demon’s been out of body for a while—”
“Five hundred years,” Monica said. “The demon was buried that long ago by the conquistadors.”
“It takes time to adjust to the body it inhabits. The heavy drugs the doctors gave him probably slowed the progress. When the demon succeeds in adapting, he’ll become what he was before.”
Monica leaned over the table and put one hand to her face. “Cruel and barbaric—committing unspeakable acts.”
“Then the sooner we perform the exorcism the better,” Mom said. “Is there any way you can get your husband out of the hospital?”
“Tuesday we have a court hearing. My attorney is requesting home visitation for a few hours on Friday evening. I was hoping to have Charles Bishop—” She dropped her hand to the table. “I guess he’s not an option anymore.”
“Then Friday it is. That will give Brendon time to prepare the area. He’ll have to draw the circle of protection with red sand and dig a hole to bury the demon.”
“That’s exactly the way I saw it in Dad’s vision.”
“Did you also see what you’ll have to do?”
I shook my head.
“When the demon leaves the body, he’ll appear as a black fog. You’ll have to wait until he changes into his demonic form.”
“He’ll become that ugly, filthy creature I see in my nightmares.”
“Yes, sweetie.” Mom took a deep breath and let it out with a ragged sound. “You’ll have to be quick. Before the demon realizes what you’re attempting, you’ll have to use your father’s ceremonial knife and plunge the blade into its heart. If you hesitate, he’ll attack you and may kill you.”
“No!” Lisa’s fingers dug in the muscles of my shoulders. “I didn’t know it would be you. I thought you knew someone. I don’t want you risking your life.”
“No one else can do this.” I stood and put my arms around her. “It’s the only way we can help your father.”
“Then don’t do it.” She hugged me tighter. “You don’t know if you can help my dad. If something goes wrong, I could lose you both.”
“Then I’ll have to make sure nothing goes wrong.”
She grabbed my mother’s hand. “Please, Mrs. Alexander. Don’t let him do this.”
“I understand how you feel, Lisa, but I don’t think I can stop him any more than I could stop my husband. Brendon is too much like his father.”
Lisa wrapped both arms around me. “I don’t want anything to happen to you,” she said between heavy sobs.
Monica squeezed between us and patted Lisa on the back. “Come on, baby. Why don’t you lie down while the rest of us discuss this?”
“I’m not a baby.” She swiped the back of her hand across her face. “I’m staying.” She walked to the sink and grabbed a paper towel to wipe away the rest of the tears.
Monica returned to her chair. “I can’t allow Brendon to risk his life. If you’ll tell me what to do, I’ll take care of the demon.”
“You saw that huge, filthy thing last night,” I reminded her. “Do you honestly believe you can face him without flinching and stab him in the heart before he slashes open your throat with his claws?”
The muscles in her neck rippled when she swallowed. “If I have to.”
“I’ve faced him in my nightmares every night for a month, and I don’t know if I can do it without hesitating. But since I’m the most experienced with fighting him, it’ll have to be me.”
“As much as I hate the idea,” Mom said, “Brendon is right. He’s the best person for the job.”
Monica leaned back in the chair. “So it’s decided. We just wait until Friday.”
“Not quite.” I glanced at Mom. “Dad said the demon won’t leave unless the body is threatened with death.”
“Threatened?” Monica’s forehead furled. “Do you mean like putting a gun to Kyle’s head and threatening to shoot if the demon doesn’t come out?”
“No.” Mom almost laughed, but it had to be nerves. “We have to create a life threatening situation to the body so the demon thinks death is eminent. Then he’ll come out.”
“And how do we do that?” Monica asked.
The three of us looked at each other, waiting for someone to figure it out. Lisa was the only one to speak. “I know how.”
We all turned and looked at her.
“The same way Mrs. Alexander told Brendon he could kil
l me.” She brushed her fingers across her lips. “With a peanut butter kiss.”
Chapter Forty–Three
“Kyle has the same allergy as Lisa,” Monica said. “Once we give him peanut butter, his body will go into anaphylactic shock within a minute, even seconds.”
“You realize how dangerous this is for him.” Mom set her cup on the table. “We may succeed in driving out the demon, but your husband could still die if he doesn’t get medical attention right away.”
Shadow Keeper Page 27